Slavery

SLAVERY IN BROOKHAVEN TOWN
History of Suffolk County
1882

SLAVERY.

It may be said that practically the settlers brought the institution and custom of slavery with them. The first record of its existence in this town appears December 9th 1672, when Richard Floyd of this town bought of Robert Hudson, of Rye, a negro man named Antony, warranted to be sound in wind and limb, for 48 pounds sterling in wheat, pork or beef at market rates. The said negro was sold by Richard Floyd to John Hurd, of Stratford, March 9th 1674. December 13th 1677 John Thomas bought of Isaac Raynor, of Southampton, a negro man " Samboe," for 38 pounds in whale oil at 2 pounds to the barrel, or in other goods. March 18th 1678 Richard Starr, of Brookhaven, sold a negro man named Martin to John Mann, of Jamaica. May 5th 1683 Ralf Dayton sold his negro Jack for a three acre lot in Newtown, eight Pounds of beef and 4 pounds. October 7th 1684 Captain John Tooker bought of Isaac Arnold, Of Southold, a negro man named Dick.

The gradual abolishment of slavery began soon after the Revolution. Under the act of February 27th 1788 persons wishing to set free any slaves were required to obtain licenses from the trustees and justices, which were granted on evidence of the negroes being under fifty years of age and capable of providing for themselves. The town records show the certificates of 66 slaves set free under that act during the years between 1795 and 1831-The following are the names of their former owners, with the number set free by each:

Under the act of March 29th 1799, requiring the registration of all slave children, in order that their owners might hold them until they reached a certain age, the following persons registered slave children born to their